I thought I was going to be a slug again today and sat down with Finn to work on one of the knit hats in progress but after Keith finished on the treadmill and took Finn upstairs I got off my butt and assembled the 16 Patch blocks.
This meets our challenge this month as it was made from Fat Quarters.
I’ve made a number of these larger 16 patch quilts over the years from fat quarters and use the cutting instructions found at the link below. The original blog is no longer available but for now, the instructions are still available.
St Louis 16 Patch – https://web.archive.org/web/20131016220636/http://sewwithsass.blogspot.com/2013/04/quilts-st-louis-16-patch.html
It takes a while to load so you’ll have to be a bit patient.
Now that it’s finished, I get to sit and knit for a while and listen to my audiobook.
I had promised myself I wasn’t going to set goals and pressure myself to work accomplish them but it’s hard. I give myself a bad time about days like yesterday where I just sat and crocheted … first while listening to my audiobook and then while watching the Lightning (they lost).
Quilting has always been my priority since I started in 2000 but now it shares my time with the knitting and crochet even more this past year and a half with all the health issues I’ve been dealing with.
Quilts, blankets, hats, and scarves all bring warmth and comfort to those in need … and of course those little quilts and critters so I need to get it through my head that I’m still accomplishing what I set out to do all those years ago even if the number of quilts finished isn’t as high as it used to be.
Your knitting and crocheting is very inspiring!
Oh my goodness, you can never even think you are not accomplishing a boat load of items. The hats and blankets are just as important and well appreciated as the quilts. There is no reason to be disappointed with yourself although I fully understand when your heart is set on a quilt and it has to wait. Hang in there. You are doing great.
I just want to go on record that I think You are amazing. With all the health issues you are dealing with, to accomplish anything is herculean. You set goals and meet them or surpass them. Give yourself a pat on the back. You deserve several. When I look at what you are accomplishing, I say to myself…get it together and stop making excuses. If Mary can do it, you can too. Be kind to yourself….You are amazing and don’t forget it.
Mary, as Janet said, I think you are amazing! I only wish I had your energy! With all you are currently dealing with, I feel downright lazy!
Beautiful quilt! I love the ribbon afghans you’ve made. I have a red, white, and blue one I made one summer during college and a purple one. They are around here somewhere! Ha!
The above link takes me to a page that says “blog has been removed.” What am I missing? Thanks.
The quilt is gorgeous and really inspirational especially with everything you’ve got going on.
The instructions don’t load for me from the web archive, so would you mind telling me the width of strip that you cut? I can figure the rest out from there I think.
Thank you for emailing. In case anyone else has problems with getting the instructions, the quilt is based on 4in strips
Oh, Mary. You put everyone you know, and everyone who follows you here to shame. I have no health issues at all and don’t accomplish a fraction of what you do on a slow day. You can cut yourself a big slice of slack! Taking good care of yourself is even more important than finishing even a single hat, and look at what you’ve managed in spite of all your issues. This phase is a temporary hickup in your extraordinary routine, so be kind to yourself. Please?
Mary, you get more done than most people. Listen to your body and when you feel like just sitting and crocheting, it may be that you need to rest and heal.
Seasons change, and so do we.
You go above and beyond all the time! “Just crocheting”- Nope- you’re creating yet another item that gets donated. Not a competition- but I could never keep up with everything that you do, and I’m not having chemo. Take it easy on yourself.
This post has hilariously perfect timing. I’d just spent the last two days making 42 16-patch blocks to build up a little stash. When I finished, I grabbed my phone to check my messages and saw your notification about your16-patch project. Talk about a random coincidence!
As we age, we learn to accept life on life’s terms. Do I like being 80? Heck no! I wish I could do things as easily as I did at age 70, but that’s not gonna happen now. So Mary, please accept that you had a rough year in 2025. You went through things that most people would hardly be able to quilt even one Quilt. And look what you did! We are so impressed with everything you do, so please, give yourself a big pat on the back.
You accomplish so much and affect so many lives in an amazing way. Don’t sell yourself short on all you do. Plus, you are an inspiration to many others. I understand you won’t take credit for what they do but know that without you much less would be accomplished.
Your inspiration has resulted in me completing 7 children’s quilt now on their way to Kenya and 12 quilts in progress (4 adult lap quilts, 4 children’s quilt and 4 little critter quilts) to go to a mission in Biloxi Mississippi. All of this due to your influence.
The quilt top is fantastic. You do so many great creative projects to fill your creative soul that I appreciate each in its beauty and purpose.
You have quite the fan club, Mary! We all appreciate the inspiration you provide to each of us. I am going to teach myself to knit and crochet because of you! (I am a quilter and have utilized your patterns/instructions.) I have bought some skeins of yarn at WalMart (thinking of Mo fussing at you for buying too much.) that match some you used. I love how your knitted and crocheted blankets turn out.
There’s a working link on Mary’s January 8th post. It’s the post where she has the squares cut out.